First of all, I would like to thank the good folks of St. Dunstan’s for your prayers, concern, and support during my recent surgery. You are the best! I was able to serve at the 7:45 and 9:00 services yesterday, and I hope to be back to full speed soon.
Speaking of prayer, remember the words of the Apostle James;,,,”The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working (James 5:16 ESV). Or, if you prefer the King James Version; “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man [or woman] avails much.” The point being that, regardless of our talents or spiritual gifts, each of us can, and should, pray for one another.
Bonnie and I recently watched the movie, “The Way.” It stars Martin Sheen and Emilio Estavez and centers around the famous pilgrimage on Camino Santiago de Compostela, an arduous 500 mile-plus journey of many routes that culminates at the Shrine of St. James in Compostela, Spain. Each year thousands of people come from around the world to walk “The Way,” and their reason for making such a pilgrimage are as varied as the countries and cultures from whence they come. While I encourage you to watch the movie, this blog is not about Camino Santiago de Compostela, but about a different pilgrimage.
A pilgrimage is generally defined as “a journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life.” Most of you know that Bonnie and I will be leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land March 18-30, 2026. More than just a trip or a tour, it is a journey through a land where faith comes alive. My late wife, Sandy, often said that a journey to the Holy Land makes the Bible a pop-up book, and I believe that is true.
Let me pause here and offer a word about safety. First of all, know that we would never lead anyone into an area that is not safe. For example, the events of October 7, 2023 forced us to cancel the pilgrimage we had planned for March of 2024. We continue to monitor the current situation with folks on the ground in Israel, especially Reuven our guide, who would let us know if it was not safe for us to come. All believe everything will be resolved long before our time to travel. Personally, I would go tomorrow if I could.
This will be my 15th pilgrimage to the Holy Land and this one includes Jordan, as well as Israel. Some would say that Jordan is not part of the Holy Land, but there are numerous references in Scripture of Moab and the “land east of the Jordan.” There are many holy sites there, such as Mt. Nebo, where Moses was allowed to see into the Promised Land and where he is buried, and Al-Maghtas on the east side of the Jordan river, where it is very likely Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. It is also one of the possible sites where the Children of Israel crossed over into the Promised Land. Often, while visiting holy sites, we see places that are not necessarily holy, but have great historical and archaeological significance. One of those places is Petra, home of the Nabatean Empire and the Treasury which is featured in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Also on our journey is Jerash, one of the Decapolis cities and home to some of the best preserved Roman ruins outside of Italy.
Once we cross into Israel, we will visit as many biblical sites as possible in the Galilee, the Golan Heights, Judea, and Jerusalem. Reuven Solomon, our guide and my close friend for nearly 30 years, will amaze you with his depth of knowledge, not just of biblical history, but of the modern Jewish state of Israel. Along the way, we will have opportunities for prayer, reflection, and worship in places only read about in Scripture. I could go on, but I encourage you to pick up a copy of the detailed itinerary, which is available at the church office, in the Narthex. I will even send you one via email, if you wish.
If you are interested in joining us on this incredible journey, please complete a registration form and send it to me, along with a deposit of $300 (Checks should be payable to “The Rev. Steve Ferguson). Deadline for registration is November 18, 2026. Please call or email me if you have any questions.
Come join us. Next year in Jerusalem!
Blessings,
Steve+
